The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-03

she has eloped with the young Frenchman;
people of that class are always doing some
thing strange replied the Earl indiffer-
emily; "but l should think he had better
return home and attend to his own affairs
l have other plans in view for him-the girl
will turn up in some absurd way without
him staying to hunt her up"
Sir Arthur had told of the abduction of
Nora without explaining his part of the
transaction, only stating that he had suffered
from slight illness.
Margaret's face wore strangely troubled
expression as the letter was read entirely to
her. She foresaw the danger her boy was
in, which his father and mother in their
pride did not dream of.
Margaret bring that drawing to the Earl
so he may also see it" requested the lady
Nurse arose and handed the sweet picture
to her lord.
He took it and gazed at it with surprise
and admiration
''She is certainly very beautiful" said he,
after looking at the sweet face intently.
"YeS, indeed but is she not most strangely
like the lovely Lady Nora that died while
abroad~ asked the Countess.
Most like, | must confess" replied her
husband thoughtfully.
And then that strange story of Lady
Dudley reaching that wild place such a
stormy night and dying there, and the two
babes born the same night-singular is it
notan
"Strange beyond comprehension, ;" replied
the Earl. Il remember" resumed he,
hearing something about Lady Nora dying
in some out of the way place in America,
and that she and her babe were brought
home to be buried but l never mentioned
the subject to Lord Dudley-his grief al
ways seemed to be so poignant that dreaded
opening the old wound"
II would show him the picture, dear; it
may be pleasure to him to see it,"
perhaps l will, wife. if l see a fitting
opportunity-but now l have come to tell
you good news, so let us drop this rustic
maiden"
Good news, husbandl" exclaimed the
Countess joyfully.
Eyes, are you prepared to hear it, or will
you be overcome with the joy9 Get the sal
volatile ready, Margaret, lest your lady
faints when l tell her, replied the Earl with
as much playfulness as it was possible for
the proud man to assume.
Margaret laughed and the Countess cried
''What is it, husband1 Tell me quickly"
women have no curiosity replied he,
but as you are dying to know, | will re-
ieve your anxiety
The Countess looked up in his face anx-
iorsly
well, you are going to have new
daughter-you have been wishing for one. y
"a daughterl o, husband! speak pleiner.
do not understand you"
ITO explain matters more fully-Lord
Ernst and myself, during conversation
this morning, concluded that Lady Betty
and our boy were of manageable age, and
as they had been old playmates and for
aught we know lovers, we concluded they
were exactly suited to each other and settled
the bargain
80, husbandl" was all the Countess could
say after he had concluded; she had been
listening breathlessly to his account.
''Are not you pleased, dearestp
"Pleased l-ah, dear husband, you do not
know how pleased! / have always loved
Betty like my own child, and now she will
be our own dear daughter"
His wifes pleasure put the Earl in an
extra good humor and he was more affec-
tionate than usual
"The Lady Betty is beautiful girl and
blushed like a rose when her father told her
of the good luck in store for her in my
presence" said the Earl
did she seem willingw
Perfectly She says she always liked
Arthur from child"
"Ah! then all will go happily and am
sure our boy will be glad"
Neither saw the troubled face of Margaret
as she bent over her work-her heart bled
for her nursling-why, she knew not, but
she felt that it was hard for the human will
to control the heart, and, although her boy
had always seemed most dOcile and obedi-
ent yet she feared from the tone of his letter
that he had already learned to love the beau
tiful girl he had so strangely met in the wilds
of the American Adirondacks, and she knew
the naughty pride of the Earl would never
olloxxy a hic
would only cause endless trouble.
"Shall we tell our son the good fortune in
store for him when we write, dear wifes'
asked the Earl.
The Countess thought for a few moments
without speaking and then replied
81 think it would be better not, dear;
why not wait until his return and then let
the young people find out their love dream
for themSelvesY
"As you please, my love-but the secret
seems too good to keep
"You know, my dear husband, Lady Betty
is so very lovely that Arthur cannot help
but love her, and then there will be no dan
ger of his rebelling," replied the Countess.
"Rebell my son REBEL" cried the Earl in
a voice of contempt; my love, our son is
Beaconsfield, and it is not Beaconsfeld
trait to rebel against that which is for their
own interests-no, wife, he ,OiU not refuse!
the latter expression given in tone that inn
piled "he shall not rebel! my word is law
and 1 will bend my son to my own proud
will"
but what if he should not love her?'
asked his wife timidly.
"Lovel pooh!-tha will do for sentiment
al fools but not for Beaconsield. We have
sense and are not weak"
Seeing the grieved expression on his wife's
countenance he kissed and soothed her and
then withdrew.
Poor Margaret, her heart ached for her
boy.
CHAPTER VIII.
The old woman tried every means in her
power to restore Nora to consciousness, but
it was a long time before there were any
s;o,,s Of rat,,rpino, lffa-eo lOney tbaf che